The Dutch driver raced for the Belgian outfit on a part-time basis in last year’s TCR BeNeLux championship. The 45-year-old will continue with major backing from DHL and TW Steel, and took the opportunity to reveal an eye-catching livery for his 2018 entry (pictured above).

A veteran of the WTCC since its rebirth in 2005 until its merger with the TCR International Series at the end of the year, Coronel has spent the past seven years racing for Roberto Ravaglia’s privateer ROAL Motorsport team. In 282 race starts in the WTCC he achieved 6 wins, all in privateer entries.

“The FIA WTCR is a worthy successor of the FIA WTCC in which I participated every season, but it is fair to say that, from a sporting perspective, I was often making up the numbers in the most recent years,” he said.

“Now, we are facing a new challenge with identical equipment for everybody, at tracks all over the world and for me an excellent situation with a brand-new Honda Civic built by JAS Motorsport and run by Boutsen Ginion; a car that has specially been built for this championship and that allows us to take on the other brands at a level playing field.

“Personally, I reckon that this could very well be the best season start of my entire career in touring car racing. It certainly is the best package I have had in the last ten years. I certainly dare to predict that this year, I will be at least able to match the total number of trophies I have scored over the last five years in the FIA WTCC.”

Coronel’s signing to Boutsen Ginion Racing all but confirms that ROAL Motorsport will not join the WTCR grid this year, with the Italian outfit seemingly unable to secure a programme for the series’ maiden season.

“For seven years, I have enjoyed a fantastic co-operation with Roberto Ravaglia’s ROAL Motorsport team,” Coronel explained. “When the FIA WTCR plans came up, he soon made it clear to me that he would not be able to realise such a project in time, so after years with highs and lows, we split in a harmonious way.

“I will certainly miss Roberto, Aldo Preo and Pietro, who was my engineer for seven years. And the same can be said for the best coffee in the paddock! But now, it is on for a new adventure. I can’t wait to push the throttle in my new Honda.”